Topic Contents

Types of Domestic Abuse

Topic Overview

Domestic violence—also called intimate partner violence—can take many forms. It can affect
your mind and emotions, or it can be physical or dangerous to your life. If you're not sure if you're being abused, ask yourself the following questions:

Does your partner:

Hit, shove, slap, kick, punch, or choke
you?

Threaten to hurt or kill you?

Call you names
or tell you that you are crazy?

Criticize things you do or
say, or criticize how you look?

Hurt your pets or destroy
things that are special to you?

Blame you for the abuse he or she
commits?

Limit where you can go, what you can do, and who you
can talk to?

Unexpectedly check up on you at your workplace,
home, school, or elsewhere?

Force you to have sex, perform sexual acts you're not comfortable with, or sexually assault you?

Threaten to have you deported?

Apologize and tell you it will never happen again (even
though it already has)?

Control all your money and finances?

Keep you away from family and friends?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may be in an abusive relationship. There are people who can help you. You are not alone. Talk to someone you trust, such as a friend, a doctor, or a help center. Talking with someone can help you make the changes you need to stay safe.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline
can help you find resources in your area. This nationwide database has detailed
information on domestic violence shelters, other emergency shelters, legal
support and assistance programs, and social service programs.

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How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.